Thank you for taking the November 2011 Editors Survey. You have made Wikipedia and its sister projects what it is and your input will help make our projects even better. Our goal is to use the information in this survey to generate insights that help improve your editing experience. We will share our report and analysis of the survey with you when the survey is complete.

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We will also use basic information like your edit history from your user profile for analysis.

We realize that this is a significant request of your time and we want to thank you in advance for your support in collecting valuable information that will help us all.

Thanks for your time and contribution!

How will we use this information?

By answering these questions, you permit us to record your responses and agree to donate them to the public domain. This allows us to freely share your answers with others for the purpose of open analysis, research, and study. We will not share publicly your name, address, phone number, or email. This commitment assumes you do not incorporate your personal information in response to a question that doesn't ask for it.

This survey is being conducted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a worldwide organization. By answering our questions, you consent to the transfer of your responses to the United States and other places as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this project.

If you have any questions about this survey, or concerns about confidentiality, please feel free to contact the team conducting the survey: survey@wikimedia.org

Q4a. We are interested in finding out more about your recent participation in Wikipedia and the Wikipedia community. For each activity, please indicate how often you have participated in the following activities in the last 30 days.

[ACROSS]

Not at all

Seldom

Sometimes

Often

Very often

[DOWN] [RANDOMIZE]

a. I write new articles.

b. I add content to existing articles.

c. I fix formatting, spelling/grammar, or make other minor edits to articles

d. I do translation work.

e. I patrol for vandalism, copyright violations, or other problems with articles.

f. I answer readers’ questions and complaints.

g. I resolve disputes among volunteers (e.g. mediation, arbitration).

h. I organize or help events, workshops, meet-ups, or annual Wikimania conferences.

i. I do public outreach or advocacy outside the Wikipedia community.

j. I do technical work such as maintaining servers or software.

k. I participate in chapter work.

l. I participate in discussions about articles.

m. I develop or maintain policies, guidelines and similar community processes.

Q4b. Below is a similar list of activities. Please indicate how often you have participated in the following activities in the last 30 days.

These next questions are about your interactions with other Wikipedia editors and your experiences as a member of the Wikipedia community.

Q17. We are interested in finding out how you would describe fellow editors. Below is a list of words to describe editors within the Wikipedia community. Please choose the TOP TWO words that describe Wikipedia editors. Please select two.

[RANDOMIZE]

a. Helpful

b. Friendly

c. Collaborative

d. Rude

e. Unfriendly

f. Intelligent

g. Dumb

h. Arrogant

Q18a. Below is a list of interactions/experiences editors may have with others within the Wikipedia community. For each one, please tell us if you have had this interaction/experience IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

[RANDOMIZE]

a. Another editor adding content/photos to an article you are working on.

b. Having inaccurate material added to an article you started.

c. Getting a barnstar or similar award from another editor.

d. Having your article(s) selected as featured article(s).

e. Having other editors fix grammatical errors in article(s) you started.

f. Having other editors add content to article(s) you started.

g. Having your picture(s) used in articles.

h. Having your content reused.

i. Having others compliment you on your edits/articles.

j. Article(s) making it to the front page.

Q18b. Below is a similar list of interactions/experiences editors may have with others within the Wikipedia community. For each one, please tell us if you have had this interaction/experience IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

a. Having your edits reverted without any explanation

b. Having your edits reverted, but with an explanation

c. Having an article that you were working on deleted

d. Being looked down on by more experienced editors

e. Argument(s) with editors on discussion pages or elsewhere

f. Other editors pushing their point of view

g. Having offensive or inaccurate material added to articles you were working on

[ONLY SHOW THOSE OPTIONS FOR Q18 where a-j & a-g =1]

Q19. Below is a shorter list of interactions you have had within Wikipedia community. For each one, please tell us the degree to which it affects your overall experience editing Wikipedia.

1. This makes me less likely to continue editing Wikipedia.

2. This does not affect my likelihood to edit Wikipedia.

3. This makes me more likely to continue editing Wikipedia.

Q20a. If you had to choose, which of these would you agree with: [QT=SS]

[ROTATE OPTIONS]

1. The feedback from other editors through reverts, discussions, etc. has helped me become a better editor.

2. The feedback from other editors through reverts, discussions, etc. has been a bad experience for me.

[NEW QUESTION]

Q21. Did you know that some warning messages on your talk page are from 'bots'? (Bots are automated or semi-automated tools that carry out repetitive and mundane tasks to maintain Wikipedia)

Q22a. Have you asked fellow editors for help on any of the following topics?

[ACROSS]

1. Yes

0. No

[DOWN]

a. Editorial policy

b. Technical help, including Wiki Mark Up, multi-media etc.

c. Asking others to edit an article that you are working on or interested in

d. Reference related questions

e. Content related questions

[ASK ONLY IF Q22a=1 FOR AT LEAST ONE OPTION]

[NEW QUESTION]

Q22b. Thinking about the last time you asked a fellow editor for help, how happy were you with the help you received?

5. Extremely Happy

4. Very Happy

3. Neither Happy or Unhappy

2. Very Unhappy

1. Extremely Unhappy

[NEW QUESTION]

Q23. Below, we list some problems that have been identified with Wikimedia culture. Please pick the THREE most important problems that have affected you personally, making it harder for you to edit.

[RANDOMIZE]

a. Too many rules and policies

b. Editors who feel like they "own" specific articles, and don't want others to contribute to them

c. The editing interface is hard to use

d. Editors who are not fun to work with

e. The software for doing maintenance tasks (such as patrolling and fighting vandalism or spam) is too hard to use

f. Lack of support from other editors

g. Lack of access to research materials like scholarly articles and books

h. Criticism of you and your work, including reverts and deletions

i. Warning messages on your talk page

j. Harassment by other editors

[NEW QUESTION]

Q24. Below are some changes that might make it easier for you to contribute. Please pick THREE that would help you the most.

[RANDOMIZE]

a. Policies and rules were simpler

b. Editors are persuaded to behave better or unpleasant ones are banned

c. The editing interface was more user friendly

d. Real-time access to editors who could help you if you were stuck

e. Software for doing maintenance tasks (such as patrolling, fighting vandalism, spam) were easier to use

f. Editors who stalk and seriously harass others were banned

g. Improved or free access to research materials like scholarly articles and books

h. More praise/thanks from other editors

i. Feedback from others that would help you learn from your mistakes

j. Access to a mentor, coach or guide

[NEW QUESTION]

Q25. Below is a list of levels of engagement editors have with Wikipedia. Please select ALL that apply.

[RANDOMIZE]

a. I understand what is expected from me

b. I am provided with the tools and materials I need to work well

c. I have the opportunity to do what I do best

d. Someone cares about me as a person

e. I feel my opinion counts

f. The mission of Wikipedia makes me feel that my work is important

g. My fellow volunteers are committed to doing quality work

h. There is somebody in the Wikipedia community who seems committed to helping me do good work

i. The decisions I have made as part of the community feel fair

j. I would recommend a friend to get involved in Wikipedia

[NEW QUESTION]

Q26. What is the single biggest obstacle that you face in making an important contribution to Wikipedia?

______ [OPEN-ENDED RESPONSE]

[NEW QUESTION]

Q27. What is the one thing that, if changed for better, would make it possible for you to contribute more effectively?

______ [OPEN-ENDED RESPONSE]

[ASK ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE MADE 1-10 EDITS]

Q28. As a new editor, we are interested in your opinion about how the community should phrase the welcome templates i.e. messages for greeting new users. On a scale of 1-10, please rate the following suggestions to rewrite the welcome templates.

a. The welcome message should mention the first article that a new editor has edited

b. The welcome message should mention username of the new editor

c. The welcome message should come from a fellow editor that I can contact

d. The welcome message should focus less on maintaining the quality of the article that a new editor has edited

e. The welcome message should use language that celebrates the first edit of a new editor

[NEW QUESTION]

Q29. Are you aware that the number of active Wikipedia editors (i.e. those who edit frequently) has fallen in the recent years?

1. Yes

0. No

[ASK ONLY IF Q29=1]

Q29a. We are interested in your opinion about what can be done to increase number of contributors to Wikipedia. Please select all of the statements that you agree with.

[RANDOMIZE BUT KEEP c & d TOGETHER]

a. I feel that it is important to increase the number of editors to ensure Wikipedia is successful in the future.

b. I believe that research can help figure out how to retain and attract new editors to Wikipedia.

c. I feel that the community needs to take action to create a better environment to RETAIN CURRENT editors.

d. I feel that the community needs to take action to create a better environment to ATTRACT NEW editors.

Q29b. Are you aware of the gender divide that exists in the Wikipedia editing community?

1. Yes

0. No

Q30. We are interested in your opinion on how the Wikimedia Foundation should spend money. If you donated 100 dollars to the Foundation, how would you like the foundation to allocate money for the following? (Please ensure that all the responses add up to $100.)

[IT SHOULD BE CODED IN SUCH A WAY THAT RESPONDENTS SHOULD KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT AS THEY ALLOCATE FOR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES]]

D16. We are interested in the interactions that women have within the Wikipedia community. Below is a list of unpleasant experiences some female editors might have had. Please mark if you have PERSONALLY had any of these experiences. Please choose all that apply.

a. I have received too much attention.

b. I was stalked online.

c. Someone tried to contact me unnecessarily outside Wikipedia.

d. Someone tried to meet me in person.

e. Someone used my image without my permission.

f. Someone left inappropriate messages for me, or comments about me, in userspace or elsewhere on Wikipedia.